ALBUM REVIEW: TONI BRAXTON - 'PULSE' - Celebrity Bug

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5/18/10

ALBUM REVIEW: TONI BRAXTON - 'PULSE'

Toni Braxton

TRACK-BY-TRACK ANALYSIS

"Yesterday": Serving as the lead single, Braxton delivers another sad love song (pun intended) as she places herself on the receiving end of another unfaithful lover. The Trey Songz-assisted remix version received the single and video treatment, but the original solo version appears on the album, which isn't a wise choice given the duet version is slightly better.

"Make My Heart": With loads of confidence, the diva step out of her comfort zone (ballads) and into the dance club on Lucas Secon-produced uptempo. Not only does this winner showcase Braxton aggressively attacking her verses, but it also refutes any notions that she is one-trick pony only capable of tackling ballads.

"Hands Tied": Intertwined with a sexiness that only she can deliver, the diva notes her ability to love her counterpart with ease and how past heartbreaks haven't prevented her from giving her heart away. To put it simply, it's a beautiful cut that moves in to overdrive towards the end at the hand of Braxton's vocals.

"Woman": A remake of the 2007 Delta Goodrem song, it is here that Braxton lays her heart on the table by delivering a pulse grabbing vocal performance that evokes the perfect blend of emotive ease and force, as she details a relationship that provides no sense of fulfillment or acknowledgment from the other party.

"If I Have to Wait": Blending R&B with a shot of Country in the vein of her biggest hit "Un-Break My Heart", she lets it be known that she doesn't mind waiting for what she wants, especially if it's that special someone. From the vocals to the song's content, this marks another shining moment where Braxton gets everything completely right.

"Lookin' At Me": On the album's second and final uptempo, Braxton proves her wisdom, because while the sexy cut has a youthful feel, it is still a record that is appropriate and complimentary to both her age and position as an artist. Mariah Carey, who had trouble finding this balance on her last album 'Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel', could definitely stand to take some notes.

"Wardrobe": Standing as the album's weakest offering, Braxton cleans out her closet and throws out everything that proves to be unflattering, which includes her current relationship. It has a slight country feel in its musicality, but just fails to take flight to the next level.

"Hero": Revamped due to its early leakage, the cut see the veteran diva singing about finally finding the one that touches her heart and saves the day. Ballads are Braxton's strongest asset and here she proves that whenever one is placed in front of her, she will sing it like her life depends on it.

"No Way": Utilizing all her well-known balladry elements on the Underdogs-produced cut, Braxton fears her man may be pulling away and takes a stand by vowing to prove that her love is the real deal. By no mean is this an overly exciting or engaging track, but it does provide another solid offering.

"Pulse": The title track that features the singer singing about finding the existence of life in a relationship that seems to have run its course. This is probably the track that rings the truest to life for Braxton, given her separation from her husband.

"Why Won't You Love Me": On the closing track and the album's brightest gem, Braxton proposes a simply question 'Why Won't You Love Me?' and seeks both answers and understanding. Like many woman, she places the blame on her personal faults or mistakes instead of examining the bigger picture, which only makes the truly superb record ring more true to real-life and real situations.

FINAL VERDICT

With her sixth studio album 'Pulse', Toni Braxton adds eleven more solid entries to her musical catalog, but the album's biggest problem is that it fails to possess a statement making record that fearlessly says 'I'm Back'.

There's no "Unbreak My Heart" or "He Wasn't Man Enough", and as a result, one of music most distinctive voices will once again go unrewarded, despite the fact that she sings each and every record on the album extremely well.

3 out of 5

CELEBRITY BUG'S KEY TRACKS
"Make My Heart", "Hands Tied", "Woman", "If I Have to Wait",
"Hero" and "Why Won't You Love Me".

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